Volume Ii Part 26 (1/2)
When the caleche stopped at Madame Droguet's door, it caused a general turmoil in the house. Everybody ran upstairs or downstairs, crying:
”A carriage for us!”
”The new owners of Goldfish Villa!”
”Monsieur and Madame de Belleville coming here!”
”Josephine, my cap with bunches of jasmine.”
”Yes, madame.”
”Monsieur Droguet, run and put on a black coat.”
”Yes, wife. Must I change my waistcoat too?”
”Yes, if you have time. Mon Dieu! here they are! and I haven't my jasmine cap! Josephine, let them wait a moment in the salon. Say that I--that I----”
”I will say that madame is was.h.i.+ng her hands.”
”No, indeed! that would be nice! You will say that I am taking a foot bath; that is much more _comme il faut_.”
Meanwhile Monsieur and Madame de Belleville had entered the house and given their names to the concierge, who performed the duties of footman as well.
Josephine came to say that her mistress was taking a foot bath, and requested them to have the kindness to wait a moment in the salon into which she ushered them.
Thelenie proceeded at once to take a survey of the room, while Chamoureau gazed at the two full-length portraits, life size, representing the master and the mistress of the house.
”It's very fine here,” he murmured; ”handsome furniture, rich paper, and a superb clock!”
”Hush, monsieur! all this is in execrable taste, and the portraits alone are enough to tell us what sort of people they represent--rich grocers, I fancy. Never mind; let us be very agreeable; we must dazzle all these people, and it ought not to be very difficult.”
Madame Droguet soon arrived, with her cap a little too much over one ear; but that gave the ex-vivandiere a martial look which was not unbecoming to her.
Monsieur Droguet came at his wife's heels, in a very short coat and a too long waistcoat, which lacked several b.u.t.tons; but he had not had time to notice it.
They bestowed a most affable welcome on their new neighbors; it was easy to see that Thelenie's genuine refinement produced a deep impression on Madame Droguet, who confounded herself in compliments and courtesies, at the same time saying to her husband in an undertone:
”b.u.t.ton yourself up!”
And he, thinking that his wife referred to his waistcoat, murmured with a contrite expression:
”The b.u.t.tons are missing.”
Thelenie informed Madame Droguet that she proposed to give dinners, receptions, festivities of all sorts, and that she should hope for her company as well as her husband's.
The corpulent dame was beside herself with joy, and Monsieur Droguet wrenched off one of the two remaining b.u.t.tons of his waistcoat.
They then proceeded to discuss the question of the other persons to be invited. Madame Droguet named her own particular friends, and Thelenie asked with an indifferent air:
”Haven't you a certain Madame Dalmont here--a so-called widow, who has a young woman living with her?”